Transcript Highlights:

• I just remind this body that we're in the current budgetary situation, or shortfall, because we passed

Transcript Highlights:

• essential life-saving services to be so poorly mismanaged, we are leaving Californians without the best level
• essential life-saving services to be so poorly mismanaged, we are leaving Californians without the best level
• technical and operational standards for the 911 system, training standards for county coordinators, any budgetary
• AB 1960 allows Cal Fire to fund community-level hardening projects through their wildfire prevention
• AB 1960 allows Cal Fire to fund community-level hardening projects through their wildfire prevention

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• As the federal government works to scale back and eradicate DEI policies at the federal level, we here
• once again, the savings clause and the federal preemption that says if anything changes at the state level
• or the federal level that impacts this bill, we pull those things out, and the integrity of the rest
• And once again, that's happening at the federal level, and people want the best quality care and education
• agencies are not complying with the reporting, and then that will help us be able to consider any budgetary

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the way the formula works, although it really didn't contemplate that level of movement between
• Union Valley Flat at FY 26, Union Valley Flat at $6,800 for all public schools in anticipation of budgetary
• school that operates a full-time learning program shall not expand their program to an additional grade level
• and may adjust emissions baselines and emissions benchmarks every three years to reduce emissions levels
• Emissions baselines and emissions benchmarks every three years to reduce emissions levels over time.

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete

Transcript Highlights:

• Institute increasing funding by just $1,000 per student over three years resulted in a full grade level
• As we enter a period of uncertainty at the federal level, where local funding will play an even greater
• This bill seeks to create a program that will aspirationally fund non-basic aid schools at levels closer
• Direct funded charter schools are funded essentially at the same levels as non-basic aid school districts
• I'd like to engage with you in this conversation next year through our budgetary processes.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• At this current level, it's a plus-two program.
• Plus-two is a misnomer at the associate level.
• maintains us at that level.
• It was meant to educate building officials as to the level of training and...
• The level of training.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's a very slight upward revision to the levels that are expected.
• And both recommendations recognize that not necessarily at the same level.
• We did include some level of budgetary increase.
• From different levels of government. That makes it even more complex.
• The LFC rec has a growth pilot that would begin at 250 of the federal poverty level.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our market is set for next year, assuming no extension, just the lower level of federal tax credits.
• I just called out the ones below 10,000 at the lowest level.
• or select metal levels.
• And maybe it's just because we're in threat level, you know, such a high threat level right now.
• And maybe it's just because we're in threat level, you know, such a high threat level right now.

Committee: Joint Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who described her background in public service and emphasized collaboration, relationships, and responsiveness to legislators as she begins her tenure. Members thanked her and noted they looked forward to working with her on the governor’s priorities and the state’s budget and service challenges. The committee then heard a presentation on the West Coast Health Alliance from Governor’s Office, Department of Health, and state health leadership. Witnesses said the alliance was formed by Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii to provide unified, science-based public health guidance, especially on vaccines, amid federal instability and misinformation. They said the alliance has already issued vaccine recommendations and statements rejecting a vaccine-autism link, and is working on return-to-work guidance and responses to federal ACIP actions. Members asked about workload and coordination with an East Coast public health group; witnesses said the main challenge is communicating unified guidance rather than reviewing studies themselves. Next, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange reported on open enrollment and the effects of federal changes, including the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and HR1 provisions affecting immigrant eligibility and future auto-renewal rules. Officials said premium increases are driving some customers to drop coverage, while state actions such as silver loading and Cascade Care Savings are helping blunt the impact for many enrollees. They also described outreach through navigators, brokers, tribal organizations, and community groups, and noted rising website traffic and more customer questions during open enrollment. Members asked about enrollment trends, carrier participation, and how to communicate upcoming federal changes. Finally, the Health Care Authority and Office of the Insurance Commissioner reviewed the state’s health reform history and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and the individual market. They highlighted ongoing state efforts on affordability, prescription drug oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, preventive services, and rural health funding. Witnesses said agencies are coordinating across DSHS, HCA, OIC, the Exchange, Employment Security, and others to prepare for Medicaid work requirements and other HR1 changes, while also trying to reduce administrative burden and preserve access to care. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just called out the ones below 10,000 at the lowest level.
• or select metal levels.
• or select metal levels.
• And maybe it's just because we're in threat level, you know, such a high threat level right now.
• And maybe it's just because we're in threat level, you know, such a high threat level right now.

Committee: Joint Joint Select Committee on Health Care and Behavioral Health Oversight

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who introduced herself and described her background in public service, federal and state legislative work, and health and human services leadership. Members emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with her and noted her focus on protecting services, using strategic approaches in a tight budget environment, and improving partnerships with the Legislature. Ramirez said she wanted to keep communication open and that her priorities would be shaped by what she learns from lawmakers and agency partners. The next work session focused on the West Coast Health Alliance and the broader Governor’s Public Health Alliance. Department of Health and governor’s office staff said the West Coast alliance, involving Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, was formed to coordinate science-based public health guidance, especially around vaccines, return-to-work guidance, and responses to federal changes. They said the alliance is intended to reduce confusion, counter misinformation, and preserve access to evidence-based recommendations, with early actions including vaccine guidance for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, a statement rejecting any vaccine-autism link, and preparation for possible ACIP changes. Members asked about workload and coordination with other regional alliances, and staff said there is informal coordination but no formal regular meetings. The committee then heard from the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange about open enrollment and the effects of federal policy changes. Exchange leaders said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, HR1 provisions, and immigration-related eligibility changes are affecting affordability and enrollment, with some customers facing large premium increases and some counties becoming harder to serve. They reported early open-enrollment traffic increases, nearly 10,000 new sign-ups, and nearly 12,000 active coverage drops so far, while noting that many more people may disenroll later if subsidies are not extended. They also described mitigation efforts such as silver loading, Cascade Care Savings, outreach through navigators and community partners, and planning for future HR1 requirements like ending auto-renewal and adding verification steps. In the final work session, staff from the Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner’s office reviewed Washington’s health reform history and the state’s current affordability and access efforts. They highlighted past ACA-related coverage gains, continued work on prescription drug affordability, PBM oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, and a pending legislative proposal to preserve access to preventive services. They also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and the exchange, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, and the need to coordinate across agencies to implement new rules. Members raised concerns about network adequacy, provider access, and the complexity of the health care system, while staff said they are trying to mitigate harm, simplify administration, and keep coverage and access as stable as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• Budgetary deferrals of $246.6 million for the TK-12 that were adopted as part of the 2024 Budget Act
• I'll be sharing our high-level comments on the LCFF summits included in the Governor's budget.
• Okay, and that makes sense from what I know on the ground level.
• I wouldn't expect those same levels of savings to happen moving forward.
• Even more than that, the mentees that they train have students who achieve at higher levels.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's budget proposes fully funding Cal Grant at its estimated level.
• And this is to maintain the award level at 35% of unmet need.
• The governor's budget also proposes funding the 2026-27 Middle Class Scholarship at the 17.5% level of
• As mentioned, under the reduced award coverage, the proposed funding level would be an estimated $513
• So the level of that bar for the Middle Class Scholarship represents the level of the award.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's budget proposes fully funding Cal Grant at its estimated level.
• And this to maintain the award level at 35% of unmet need.
• The governor's budget also proposes funding the 2026-27 Middle Class Scholarship at the 17.5% level of
• As mentioned, under the reduced award coverage, the proposed funding level would be an estimated $513
• So the level of that bar for the Middle Class Scholarship represents the level of the award.

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• But with that, I'd like to point your attention to the high level that you may see in your binders.
• We want to make sure that we are funding that at a level that's appropriate.
• In Central and Las Lunas, we have two full housing units and the level one facility shut.
• Standard officers supervise low custody or low and medium-level individuals.
• At different levels, there's a very strong request for some level of special appropriation potentially

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our staff includes multiple levels of investigators as well.
• He talked about small, low-level systems fraud.
• of follow-up to that level of complaint from the public?
• So I just wanted to kind of level set.
• It's a severity level six offense under the guidelines.

Bills: HF3043 , HF2891

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:04.240><c> This</c> beyond their current levels. This beyond their current levels.
• </c><01:56:02.880><c> of</c> maintain the current level of maintain the current level of services.<01
• Next up is Claudia and John, and on deck is Suzanne Keteridge. there is a level level of expertise in
• there is a level level of expertise in property<03:20:26.880><c> tax</c><03:20:27.479><c> appeals</c
• We are in recess for one hour. like Medicaid and all levels of our like Medicaid and all levels of our

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So I believe I understood that you said that, if I'm wrong, that the level of activity, the number of
• This affects the ability to determine the exact level of production and sales.
• This is market dynamics at some level. Any other questions?
• This is market dynamics at some level. Any other questions?
• This is market dynamics in some, at some level. Any other questions?

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the state level, Medi-Cal is administered by the Department of Health Care Services, and CalFresh
• At a high level, these work-requirement changes apply to able-bodied working-age adults.
• I also am curious about, and we heard about this as well, about the level of...
• It's eligibility staff at the county level.
• Counties are required to provide health care to individuals, but it is subsistence-level care.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on how H.R. 1’s new federal work and community engagement rules will affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh, especially for Californians with behavioral health needs, people experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the scope of the changes, including Medi-Cal work requirements beginning in January 2027 and CalFresh changes beginning in June 2026, and estimated large potential coverage losses if people cannot document exemptions or comply with reporting rules. State departments said they are still awaiting some federal guidance but are already building implementation plans, data matching, outreach campaigns, and system changes to reduce disruption and automatically identify exemptions where possible. Department of Health Care Services and Department of Social Services officials described efforts to use existing data, CalSAWS, and cross-program coordination to streamline exemption screening, including for medical frailty, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and student status. They said outreach will include text messaging, webinars, county training, and community-based partners, while also acknowledging that many people will still need direct worker contact. County representatives stressed that the new rules will create major administrative burdens, require significant new staffing, and could lead to coverage loss if counties are not adequately funded. They urged the Legislature to release the $20 million in current-year General Fund for CalFresh implementation and to consider a much larger county augmentation next year. Assembly members pressed the administration on outreach strategy, county funding, consistency across counties, and how to avoid harming eligible people through overly aggressive implementation. They also asked about coordination with universities, CDCR, and community-based organizations, and about how exemptions would be documented for mental health and substance use conditions. Department officials said they are working with counties, education institutions, and correctional agencies, and that they are trying to align Medi-Cal and CalFresh rules where possible, but not all federal definitions match. Public commenters from legal aid, counties, labor, and public hospitals warned that work requirements do not increase employment, will worsen food insecurity and health outcomes, and will strain county systems unless the state provides more funding and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• with dementia do require assistance with activities of daily living, and they spend down to Medicaid levels
• What are we going to do differently locally and at the state level to really be prepared for making sure
• And 66% have some college or more in education level and 34% in high school or less.
• I think where we're trying to really engage, particularly at the state agency level, is what are the
• I think where we're trying to really engage, particularly at the state agency level, is what are the

Summary: The committee began with an extended work session on the long-term care workforce. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector described the new Home and Community Living Administration and outlined major workforce pressures: Washington had about 126,000 long-term care workers in 2022, with demand expected to outpace supply as the 85-plus population and dementia prevalence rise sharply. She emphasized that direct care workers are largely women, people of color, and immigrants, and that family caregivers are also a major part of the system. She highlighted recruitment and retention efforts funded through federal Money Follows the Person dollars, including high school training partnerships, a retention toolkit, transportation support, caregiver newsletters, tribal workforce navigators, and a remote caregiving pilot. Committee members asked about career pathways, technology use, and turnover drivers; Rector said wages, benefits, unstable hours, and workplace support are key issues and promised follow-up data. Aidan Swain of the Washington Health Care Association said skilled nursing and assisted living facilities face acute RN vacancies, wage pressures, and Medicaid reimbursement that does not cover costs, and urged modernization of training, better reimbursement, and continued support for facility-based care. Maddie Fouch of SEIU 775, representing about 55,000 caregivers, said low wages, weak benefits, lack of voice, and certification delays are driving turnover and shortages, and argued for higher compensation, better worker protections, and more transparent reimbursement. Catherine Smith of Behavioral Health Solutions described growing behavioral health needs in nursing homes, the role of expanded behavioral supports programs, and credentialing delays that slow hiring. No votes were taken; the panel was informational only. The second agenda item was an overview of the palliative care benefit work group report required by 2024 legislation. Nico Jansen of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that the work group, convened with the Health Care Authority, studied a potential palliative care benefit for fully insured commercial plans and also Medicaid, PEBB, and SEBB. He said palliative care is a philosophy of care focused on symptom management, coordination, and support for serious illness, and is distinct from hospice because it can be provided alongside curative treatment. The actuarial analysis concluded that creating a new benefit would likely increase costs, estimating about a 28-cent per member per month increase overall and roughly $2.6 million to $4.5 million in annual state Medicaid costs if implemented in 2027. Jansen said the consultants did not find sufficient evidence to assume savings from avoided hospitalizations or long-term care, though several work group members disagreed and submitted response letters. Senators asked about other states, Medicare, health homes, and whether more research could clarify cost savings; OIC said some states, including Hawaii, are moving ahead with Medicaid palliative care benefits, Medicare covers some related services but not in the same way, and further evidence may emerge over time. OIC did not take a position on whether the Legislature should create the benefit. The final presentation covered health care price transparency tools in Washington and federally. Evan Klein and HCA Chief Data Officer Vishal Chaudry reviewed federal hospital and health plan transparency rules, the state all-payer claims database, prescription drug price transparency, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and other reporting systems. They explained that the APCD contains claims from fully insured commercial plans, Medicaid, and public employee programs, but not self-insured employer data except for limited voluntary submissions. They also described how machine-readable files, consumer price tools, and aggregated dashboards are used, and noted that data limitations, delays, and complexity remain significant. Senators asked about voluntary self-insured participation, the role of AI in making data more usable, and whether transparency can really help consumers given access barriers and medical debt. HCA said AI is increasingly used by private entities to mine large transparency datasets, but state agencies still face limits in data access and analytic capacity. The committee did not take action; the session was informational and ended with a discussion of how transparency data might better inform policy and purchasing decisions in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• The homes differ in the levels of care that they offer, but system-wide, these range from independent
• We actually have to make money to pay off the debt to even get to a sustainable level.
• We're also currently sort of taking into account what's happened at the federal level.
• So that could result in additional resources at the local level.
• And so it really does kind of generate more economic activity at the local level.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held an informational hearing on budget issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, and the California Arts Council. The chair noted there would be no votes. CalVet gave an overview of its programs serving veterans and families, including transition assistance, county veterans service officers, education approvals, housing and homelessness programs, home loans, long-term care homes, and state veterans cemeteries. Members asked about future long-term care needs for aging veterans, staffing and recruitment challenges at veterans homes, and the Yountville steam infrastructure replacement project, for which CalVet sought a $38.8 million reappropriation and said federal reimbursement was expected. CalVet also discussed the role of county veterans service officers in helping veterans file claims and avoid predatory unaccredited representatives. The Department of Cannabis Control described its regulatory role from seed to sale and requested one position to implement SB 1064’s combined activities license. Members and public witnesses focused heavily on the illicit cannabis market, enforcement staffing, and the impact of taxes and fees on the legal market. DCC said it had roughly 87 enforcement positions with about a 15% vacancy rate and more than 200 compliance staff. Its economist presented the 2024 cannabis market report, which found licensed production and retail quantity were up, but retail value and prices were down, with an estimated 11.4 million pounds of illicit production and about 60% of California consumption still coming from the illicit market. Industry witnesses argued the legal market is in crisis, urged repeal of the scheduled excise tax increase, stronger enforcement against illicit cannabis and hemp-derived intoxicants, and expanded retail access. The Department of Consumer Affairs briefly presented nine budget proposals, including a $2.6 million ongoing request to maintain a business modernization system for several boards and bureaus. The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls described its work on economic and educational equity, health care, violence prevention, student rights, and archival and outreach projects, and said its budget request would convert limited-term positions to permanent. A member urged the commission to narrow its priorities toward current issues such as affordability, child care, and women’s health. The California Arts Council outlined its role as the state’s only statewide arts funder and requested restoration of $5 million in local assistance; supporters testified that the funding would leverage additional local investment and help sustain arts access, especially in rural communities. The hearing ended after the non-presentation items were noted and no further public comment was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• To agency at the upper levels, right?
• </c><01:04:40.400><c> of</c> get rid of basically a middle level of get rid of basically a middle level
• It'll save us this budgetary impact.
• </c><03:37:19.600><c> appeal</c> individuals who at a first level appeal individuals who at a first level
• , the first level, and the compensation appeals board, the second level, I will say having looked at

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration